Dashing Freeman has New Zealand in his sights
As he hands over his golden retriever, Leo, to his parents the 23-yearold can reflect on a campaign which has seen him tick the box marked Premiership winner with Northampton.
He has also checked the box that said regain his England place and take more time playing at centre to add to his skills on the wing. Tick, tick and another tick.
The one tick missing is a Test win, or two, in New Zealand, starting with Saturday's clash with the All Blacks in Dunedin ahead of the tour finale in Auckland on July 13.
Freeman, who got over the agony of being cut early for the World Cup, regained his England spot and started every game in the Six Nations plus the 52-17 win over Japan in Tokyo last weekend.
And through it all the 16-handicapper has been playing like a multiple major winner.
The first time the full England squad gathered post-Six Nations, Freeman entered their training base in Bagshot with a Premiership winners' medal in his pocket as did the other six Saints he was there with.
Immediately they were sat down by head coach Steve Borthwick and his assistant Kevin Sinfield, a serial trophy winner rugby league, who told them how their Twickenham triumph could be useful for England.
Freeman, 23, said: "Kev has been in that situation before of walking into camps and being winners and it is recognising being a winner and how you can impact the team. If we can come in and bring as much value to the other lads and be as upbeat as we can for what the challenge is next, is the main thing.
This story is from the June 30, 2024 edition of The Rugby Paper.
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This story is from the June 30, 2024 edition of The Rugby Paper.
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